Chrysanthemum plant named `Charibo`

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct Chrysanthemum cultivar named `Charibo` is provided. The new cultivar was the result of a controlled breeding program. Attractive very large double incurved blossoms of the pompon type are formed generally in the shape of a round ball. The response period of the flowers is approximately nine weeks. Recurrent profuse flower production throughout the year is possible. The plant possesses strong stems, forms large deep green leaves, and commonly assumes a height of approximately 40 to 45 cm. The new cultivar is particularly suited for use in the production of a decorative pot Chrysanthemum and can be grown single-stem, disbudded, or center budded. No growth regulator is necessary.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention comprises a new and distinct cultivar ofChrysanthemum, botanically known as Dendranthema grandiflorum, andhereinafter is referred to by the cultivar name `Charibo`.

The new cultivar is the product of a planned breeding program which hadas its objective the creation of a new Chrysanthemum cultivar that isintended primarily for pot mum production.

The breeding program which resulted in the production of the newcultivar of the present invention was carried out in a controlledenvironment during October 1987 at Nuaille, Trementines, France. Thefemale parent (i.e, the seed parent) was an unnamed plant designated84-127-5 (non-patented in the United States) having a large white pomponflower that was bred during 1984 which lacked a good response topinching and had deficient foliage, and the male parent (i.e., thepollen parent) was the `Le Layon` cultivar (non-patented in the UnitedStates) having a large double yellow flat flower that was bred duringthe 1960's and had a response time of 10 weeks. The parentage of the newcultivar can be summarized as follows:

    84-127-5×`Le Layon`.

The seeds resulting from the above pollination were sown and many smallplantlets were obtained which were physically and biologically differentfrom each other. Selective study resulted in the identification of asingle plant of the new variety.

It was found that the new cultivar of the present invention:

(a) exhibits attractive double incurved white pompon blossoms generallyin the shape of a round ball,

(b) exhibits a flower response period of approximately nine weeks,

(c) forms attractive dark green foliage,

(d) achieves a short to medium plant height, and

(e) is particularly suited for pot mum production on a recurrent basisthroughout the year.

The new cultivar is intended primarily as a decorative pot Chrysanthemumfor growing indoors. However, it also can be grown for cut flowerproduction in those instances where stems of approximately 30 to 40 cm.are acceptable. Also, the new cultivar can be grown outdoors attemperatures above freezing.

In the absence of debudding commonly 6 to 7 blossoms form per stem. Thenew cultivar can be grown single-stem, with disbudding, or centerbudded. An increased number of branches readily can be induced bypinching. The pinching of a cutting commonly produces 3 or 4 stems. Theplant is somewhat sensitive to over-watering in the winter.

The new cultivar can be considered to be an October-flowering greenhousevariety with the natural flowering season commonly occurring in weeks 42and 43 of the year. Attractive blossoms can be produced on a recurrentbasis throughout the year with the indicated nine week response period.The blossoms are long lasting and commonly can be maintained on theplant for two to three weeks, and for three to four weeks when cut andplaced in a vase.

Asexual reproduction of the new cultivar by cuttings initially takenduring 1988, as performed in Nuaille, Trementines, France, in acontrolled environment has demonstrated that the characteristics of thenew cultivar as herein described are firmly fixed and are retainedthrough successive generations of asexual propagation.

`Charibo` has not been observed under all possible environmentalconditions to date. Accordingly, it is possible that the phenotype mayvary somewhat with variations in the environment, such as temperature,light, day length, contact with pesticides and/or subjection to growthretardant treatments.

When the new cultivar of the present invention is compared to the`Cuedolys` cultivar (non-patented in the United States), the `Charibo`cultivar is found to exhibit a shorter response period of approximately9 weeks vs. approximately 11 weeks, less incurving of the ray florets,pointed tips of the ray florets vs. emarginate tips, and the immatureray florets are more cream at the center of the blossoms instead of moregreen. Also, when compared to the `May Shoesmith` cultivar (non-patentedin the United States), the `Charibo` cultivar is found to exhibit ashorter response period of approximately 9 weeks vs. approximately 11weeks, and to form a plant having a shorter height.

The new cultivar is being marketed under the HARP trademark.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying photographs were prepared during June 1994, and show asnearly true as it is reasonably possible to make the same in colorillustrations of this character, typical plants and plant parts of thenew cultivar of the present invention. The plant were 12 weeks of ageand were grown at Nuaille, Trementines, France, under standardgreenhouse conditions which approximately those commonly utilized forthe production of decorative pot mums. The plant had been disbudded inorder to encourage the formation of one large bloom per stem. Oneapplication of Alar growth regulant was utilized at a concentration of 3grams per liter. In some photographs a measuring tape is present and canbe used for size comparison.

FIG. 1 illustrates typical specimens of the overall plant wherein fivecuttings were placed in a 20 cm. pot. The clear white incurved flowers,as well as the foliage, are apparent.

FIG. 2 illustrates a closer view of a typical open flower wherein themore immature center displays a cream-yellow appearance.

FIG. 3 illustrates above the under surfaces of three flowers inprogressive stages of opening from left to right, and below the uppersurfaces of a pair of flowers in progressive stages of opening from leftto right.

FIG. 4 illustrates at the top row the upper surfaces of typical leavesof various sizes and at the bottom row the under surfaces of typicalleaves of various sizes.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The chart used in the identification of colors described hereafter isthe R.H.S. Colour Chart of the Royal Horticultural Society, London,England. In some instances more common color terms are provided and areto be accorded their usual dictionary significance. The plants describedwere 12 weeks of age and were grown at Nuaille, Trementines, France,under standard greenhouse conditions which approximately those commonlyutilized for the production of decorative pot mums.

Classification:

Botanical.--Dendranthema grandiflorum, cv. `Charibo`.

Commercial.--Decorative pot mum.

Inflorescence

A. Capitulum:

Form.--Large, double, incurved. The outside rows of petals may change toa semi-incurved configuration or even a slightly reflexed configurationupon maturity.

Type.--Pompon.

Diameter across face.--Approximately 15 cm. on average when fullyexpanded.

B. Corolla of ray and disc florets:

Color of bud.--Commonly Yellow-Green Group 150D on the outside.

Disc florets.--Tubular, yellow in coloration, few in number, verydifficult to observe, and tend to be scattered among the ray floretswith a small cluster at the apex of the receptacle that is visible onlywhen the ray florets are removed. Such disc florets are classified asType 2 pursuant to UPOV reference TG/26/4 of Nov. 14, 1979.

General tonality.--At the beginning of flowering the blossoms appear tobe bicolored with pure white on the outer rows of ray florets and softcream to light green on the inner rows of ray florets. The initialbicoloration can be attributed to differences in maturity between theinner rows of ray florets and the outer rows of ray florets. As theblossoms mature, the inner rows of ray florets tend to fade to white,and finally all of the ray florets become white. The rate of fading isinfluenced by the temperature and light intensity that is experiencedwhich tends to induce a change in color pigmentation.

Color ray florets.--The innermost ray florets become White Group 155D,and the outermost ray florets become White Group 155D but whiter.Immature ray florets at the center of the capitulum vary from cream toYellow-Green Group 145C, and sometimes display a lime-green tint.

Configuration ray florets.--Concave in cross section, textured, andpossess pointed tips.

C. Reproductive organs:

Androecium.--Generally present with most of the disc florets and absentin ray florets.

Gynoecium.--Generally present with most disc florets and with most rayflorets.

Pollen.--Formed in a slight quantity and golden-yellow in coloration.

Fragrance.--Typical of Chrysanthemum.

Plant

A. General appearance:

Height.--Short to medium, and approximately 40 to 45 cm. in height onaverage. A shorter plant can be formed when a growth regulator isapplied, but the use of such growth regulator is optional.

B. Foliage:

Color (upper surface).--Dark green, Green Group 137A.

Color (under surface).--Lighter green approaches Green Group 138A.

Long day leaf count.--Approximately 24 to 29 leaves per typical stem ina long day crop before the bud occurs.

Configuration.--Lobed (as illustrated).

Texture.--Fleshy.

Internode length.--Very short.

Stems.--Thin to medium in diameter, strong, angular in cross section,Yellow-Green Group 146C in coloration, and commonly with anthocyanincoloration at the nodes.

I claim:
 1. A new and distinct cultivar of Chrysanthemum plant named`Charibo`, substantially as herein shown and described, which(a)exhibits attractive double incurved white pompom blossoms generally inthe shape of a round ball, (b) exhibits a flower response period ofapproximately nine weeks, (c) forms attractive dark green foliage, (d)achieves a short to medium plant height, and (e) is particularly suitedfor pot mum production on a recurrent basis throughout the year.